Lambertville, NJ:  The Rago Arts and Auction Center hosts an open house on Tuesday, November 29, featuring a talk by Newark Museum curator Ulysses Grant Dietz.

“Silver in America 1840-1940: Jewelry’s Sister Industry in America’s Gilded Age”  looks at the development of silver production from the 1840s, when foreign competition was first halted, to World War II, when silver manufacturing began its long slow decline.  Mr. Dietz will discuss the impact that silver – in all its diverse forms, fashions and functions – has had on the everyday life of the American home.

Ulysses Grant Dietz has been the curator of Decorative Arts at The Newark Museum since 1980.  He has been collecting silver for the Newark Museum for over 30 years.

The talk takes place during preview week for Rago’s Silver, Jewelry and Great Estates auctions, to be held on December 2, 3, 4, 2011.

It is co-sponsored by the Appraisers Association of America, the premier association of personal property appraisers serving the arts, legal, and financial communities. The certified members of the Appraisers Association of America provide USPAP-compliant appraisals for the fine and decorative arts, jewelry, and household contents for purposes of insurance, estate tax, charitable donation, equitable distribution, liquidation, purchase, and sale.

The auction house opens on Tuesday, November 29 at Noon. A reception begins at 5 pm. Mr. Dietz will speak at 6 pm.

RSVP to 609.397.9374 ext. 119. Unable to rsvp in advance? Please join us if you can. All are welcome.